Shriram S. Savrikar, Unmeshi Sabnis, Mukund Sabnis
Jeevanrekha Analytical Services, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, India 431001
*Address for Corresponding Author
Shriram S. Savrikar,
Jeevanrekha Analytical Services, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, India 431001
Abstract
Allotropes and polymorphic forms of chemical ingredients significantly affect the absorption, solubility, dissolution and bioavailability of the drugs determining their efficacy. Ayurvedic drugs are no exception to this phenomenon. The present paper deals with the polymorphic forms of Mercury Sulphide (HgS) found in Rasasindoora, an Ayurvedic drug abundantly used by Ayurvedic practitioners for its multifaceted therapeutic utility. Chemically Rasasindoora is a sulphide of Mercury (HgS). Ten samples of Rasasindoora were procured and analysed in this study for detection of polymorphs of Mercury sulphide (HgS) using X Ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The study concludes that polymorphic composition of Rasasindoora varies from sample to sample. Polymorphs of Mercury sulphide Cinnabar (α-HgS) and Hyper-cinnabar (γ HgS) having hexagonal crystals and Metacinnabar (𝛽-HgS) with cubic crystals were detected in Rasasindoora. Apart from this variation, wide variation in the crystalline and amorphous content in the samples of Rasasindoora was also observed. These variations appear principally due to the absence of standard manufacturing procedures of Rasasindoora. Absence of uniformity in multiple batches of Ayurvedic drugs was observed in past studies as well. The present study brings forth the subject as a major issue which needs to be addressed for quality control of Ayurvedic drugs.
Keywords: Rasasindoora, Polymorphs, Cinnabar, Metacinnabar, Hypercinnabar, X Ray Diffraction
